Breakaway Discussion

[LavastormSW]

I find it interesting how the red goals are on the red side and vice versa. I think most of the competition will be played out in the middle as the balls are returned to the center with the alliances fighting over them. It will definitely be an interesting year.

[ttldomination]

I don't think that the game will be played that much in the middle.

Looking further at the restraints of the balls, meaning they can only enter 3" into your robot frame, they can't leave the ground, you can't leave the robot frame except for a couple of seconds to extend into the bumper frame. I don't see many robots with the ability to consistently score from the middle. I think the more successful machines will be making accurate, and quick goals from the closest area.

[mathking]

But you have to get the balls from the middle to the goal or back to your robot(s) near the goal to score. The ball return is going to drop them in the middle.

[Eagle981]

Originally Posted by ttldomination

I don't think that the game will be played that much in the middle.

Looking further at the restraints of the balls, meaning they can only enter 3" into your robot frame, they can't leave the ground, you can't leave the robot frame except for a couple of seconds to extend into the bumper frame. I don't see many robots with the ability to consistently score from the middle. I think the more successful machines will be making accurate, and quick goals from the closest area.

This sounds logical to me but then again with the existence of the "bumps" that short throw of an extension could lead to some ball air time . I'm glad that there are quite a few dimensions to the game that allow a greater engineering diversity for all levels of experience to excel in certain areas as well as the game field itself being less planar than the past couple years.

[DiehardCybercard]

I think this year's game is amazing. This game requires an intense planning of robot design. Not only that it requires adaptability which is not a necessary an item needed in previous games. It seems this year's game will rely heavily on alliance communication and strategy. It seems every year FIRST has tried to implement more and more team work into the game. This year seems like a year for significant stratagy. Im excited to see the robots, but more so how teams cooperate.

[pandamonium]

I have a serious question. Can you heard multiple balls? The obvious answer is no because you can only posses one ball at a time. BUT a ball is in possession "if, as the ROBOT moves or changes orientation (e.g. backs up or spins in place), the ball remains in approximately the same position relative to the robot." 7.2 DEFINITIONS

so I think that you can push kinda like dribble / run into multiple balls because they do not remain in the same position relative to the robot. This would perhaps make a plow a viable mechanism? When a plow backs up and spins in place balls do not stay in the same position.

[Tetraman]

I can't seem to "break away" my interest.

(bad pun)

I think it's great. I agree its a disappointment we can't really strech robot arms out this year or do some really crazy stuff, but it's a challenge nonetheless and I can't wait for teams to start posting their work around weeks 5-6. It will be great to see the kind of innovation you can make with such limitations and rules. It's got the headaches of Overdrive with the excitement of Aim High. A perfect FIRST combonation!

[dodar]

Ok, now when the rules say that you can extend into Finale Dimensions during the match as long as you are in contact with the tower, does the platform be considered as part of the tower?

[EricH]

Originally Posted by dodar

Ok, now when the rules say that you can extend into Finale Dimensions during the match as long as you are in contact with the tower, does the platform be considered as part of the tower?

Considering the fact that the platform is included under the tower section of Section 6, that is a reasonable assumption. A quick check via Q&A would probably be in order, though.